Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread Mix + Cream Cheese + Powdered Sugar + Cinnamon= YUMMY!

I think he likes them!

Olive Tee Giveaway!

The family and I attended The Crossing Jordan Festival a couple weeks ago and I happened to come across a cool company that makes some pretty awesome clothing. They are called The Olive Tee.

Their slogan reads: The Olive Tee uses simple encouraging statements without compromising style, to share the Word of God.

How amazing is that? 

When I saw the "blessed" tank I was in L-O-V-E. They are not only a really cool company but they are super generous too. They are giving you all the opportunity to win a "blessed" tank of you own! 

Here are the rules:

This giveaway will run until October 11th. To participate you must be a follower of Blissfully Blessed. To become a follower click the "Join this site" button on the right side of the screen.

Entry #1

Check out (link: The Olive Tee) and tell me your favorite item in the comments below.

Entry #2

Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook and tell me you did in the comments below.

Thank you Olive Tee!

Good Luck!! 

My Favorite Beauty Items

Benefit boi-ing concealer, the best concealer I have ever used! Plus it doesn't settle into fine lines. 

I love this stuff for chapped lips, dry skin and even taming my eyebrows.

I am entering my late 20's so this is a must. It gives the perfect amount of moisture and it exfoliates too.

The best moisturizer with SPF I have ever tried and it smells awesome!  

Bare Escentuals bronzer,  I use this all year long. It adds the perfect sun tanned glow.

It looks crazy but its a great primer for under Bare Minerals foundation and it evens out my skin tone. 

This was a freebie with the primer above and it's a cream blush. The texture and color is fantastic.

This was a freebie too. The color is called Vapor and its a beautiful highlighter for brow bone and the inside of the eye.

This was a splurge for me. My eyes are my favorite feature and my eyelashes recently started to fall out and the became short and stubby. I use half the recommended amount so it will last twice as long. I have only been using it for about 3 weeks.

I wish I had a before picture. I do have mascara on, but I can hardly believe the difference already. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Shoetastic Fabulous Thrift Store Finds

Yes, I made up my own word "shoetastic" but no other title expressed my excitement for cute and really CHEAP shoes. Over the past few weeks the thrift shoe gods have once again smiled upon me and granted me the ever elusive size seven shoe. At $2 a pair I could hardly pass up these beauties. One can never have TOO many pairs of shoes right?

Have a great weekend!

Fall Inspired Mantle

Before: Summertime.

After: Hello Fall!

Everything was from the thrift store. I scored a whole box filed with a ton of fall decor at the Goodwill. My mantle decorations were very inexpensive. The mossy letter mirror and the banner was made by myself links below. Even though its still 90 degrees outside, inside it's beginning to look like fall.

Simple Fall Banner

Mossy Letter Mirror

Blackberry Oatmeal Bars

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur white whole wheat flour)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup jam

I used my freezer jam recipe here: http://nicole-blissfullyblessed.blogspot.com/2011/09/berry-picking-and-blackberry-freezer.html

Of course I had my little helper.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 8 inch square pan, and line with greased foil (I used parchment paper).
2. Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. Rub in the butter using your hands or a pastry blender to form a crumbly mixture. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into the jam.
3. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Simple Fall Banner

I used a mens linen shirt that I bought from the Goodwill. I made a template with paper and I lined it up with the bottom of the shirts hem so I could use it to put the string through. 

I just used a plain old sharpie to write the lettering.

Then I hot glued some leaves to add some color. I think it will be a great addition to my fall mantle....  pics coming soon!








 

Girls night featuring a Stella and Dot trunk show.

Have you all heard of Stella and Dot jewelry? Oh my goodness! I had a trunk show at my house last night and my house was transformed into a fancy boutique. I invited a bunch of girlfriends and we enjoyed some wine and snacks while we got to try on the cutest jewelry. It brought me back to playing dress up as a little girl. I think I fell in love with about 5 pieces. Ehemm..... Hubby! I took some quick photos before the guest arrived.

I went with a pink theme for the food and decor. I think its because I live with boys, I long to see girly things.

White Chocolate Truffle Brownie Pop recipe: http://nicole-blissfullyblessed.blogspot.com/2011/06/white-chocolate-truffle-brownie-pops.html

http://www.stelladot.com/sites/alexahamilton

I had such a great time! The link is above if you would like to order and support another hard working mom and woman (Alexa, Stella and Dot stylist). On the right side it says "find your hostess" type in my name Nicole Matteri and place your order. I am keeping the party open to orders till next Friday the 16th. Have a great weekend!